CAS Chronicles
Stories
Urban and regional planning program director accepts seat on local planning commission
Led by ten citizen appointees from Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the City of Plant City and the City of Temple Terrace and two representatives from MacDill Air Force Base and the Hillsborough County Public School District, the planning commission contributes to the creation of a thriving, prosperous community.
April 1, 2025Accomplishments, Community Engagement
USF faculty lead conservation discussions at Tampa Bay Youth Ocean Summit
John Parkinson, an assistant professor in the University of South Florida’s College of Arts and Sciences, spoke to over 150 university students from across the state who attended the summit to hear presentations on a variety of ocean-related subjects, including how to reduce plastic on university campuses.
March 31, 2025Community Engagement, Events, Research
Eleven USF faculty among 2024 class of Fellows of American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science elected 11 USF faculty members – five of which are from the College of Arts and Sciences – to its 2024 class of Fellows, the third largest cohort of AAAS Fellows from any university in the nation.
March 27, 2025Accomplishments
Is professional licensing a racket? Freakonomics explores the cost of entry with USF professor of economics
In a recent episode of the popular podcast Freakonomics Radio, host Stephen Dubner cites research by Bobby Chung, an assistant professor of economics at the University of South Florida, who found that licensing reduces the labor supply in a given profession by 17 to 27 percent.
March 27, 2025Research
CAS alumna plans more accessible future for Tampa Bay
Amanda Harig, an alumna from the School of Public Affairs, credits her already impressive career to the hands-on experiences and mentorship she received during her time at USF.
March 27, 2025Alumni
Tracking Giants: How a Department of Integrative Biology professor’s research is rooted in conservation and community
Lucas Griffin, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, is dedicating his research to uncovering how marine life navigate their habitats, overcoming both natural and human-induced challenges. His goal is to contribute to sustainability initiatives that protect marine ecosystems while supporting the communities that rely on them.
A legacy restored: former USF professor brings posthumous Zora Neale Hurston novel to light
Convinced of its literary and anthropological value, Hurston continued to revise the unpublished manuscript until her death in 1960. When a handyman tasked with clearing out her home set fire to her trunk, the manuscript was almost lost forever.
March 26, 2025Accomplishments, Featured, Research
Can seeds adapt to the heat?
Integrative biology doctoral student Gabriela Quesada-Avila explores how temperature affects seed sprouting to understand plant community responses and inform forest restoration efforts.
March 26, 2025Community Engagement, Research
USF study reveals how smartphones may benefit kids, risks of posting publicly to social media
Findings will help inform a 25-year national study that will track young people’s digital media use and wellbeing into adulthood.
March 25, 2025Research
![Julio Blanco III [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/march/julio-new-listing.jpg)
From first-generation student to future pediatrician, meet USF’s Julio Blanco III
Julio Blanco is the first in his family to attend college. Joining USF was a monumental feat given the adversity he faced growing up, which included periods of homelessness and his family facing financial hardship. But he never let that get in the way of achieving his dreams.
March 7, 2025Community Engagement
![Libby Royer surveys changes to Treasure Island beaches following Hurricanes Helene and Milton [Photos by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/march/libby-listing.jpg)
What sparked USF student Libby Royer’s passion for storm-proofing coastlines
USF doctoral student Libby Royer has taken an active role in future-proofing Tampa Bay. Her research revolves around the impacts of hurricanes on coastlines and how coastal communities can better prepare for future storms.
March 7, 2025Research
Innovative research on ferrimagnetic materials earns over $2.5M in funding to advance communication technologies
Two grants awarded to faculty in the Department of Physics will support research on ferrimagnetic materials and their potential applications in advancing communication technologies.
February 27, 2025Research